Chassis



Aprll 26', 1927. F. w. AYRES CHASSIS Filed May 13/1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l 8mm 'jFa'nK W. A PEE M? April 26, 1927. 1,625,972

F. W. AYRES CHASSIS Filed May 13, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 wue/wtoz I ffanK W. A1 res April 26, 1927. 1,625,972

F. W. AYRES CHASSIS- Filed May 13, 19?2 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 1,625,972 April 26, 1927. F w. AYRES CHASSIS Filed May 13.- l922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

PATENT ()FFICE.

FRANK W. AYRES, OF COLBY, KANSAS.

enAssIs.

Application file d May 13, 1922. Serial No. 560,558.

This invention relates to improvements in chassis, and more particularly to an axle mounting therefor. I

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved method of attaching the axles to the chassis and springs supporting the chassis from the axle.

A further object is to provide an improved spring mounting whereby excessive movement of the axles with relation to the chassis brings into play auxiliary springs for checking the motion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a snubber spring construction combining and coacting with the normal springs of the axle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved radius rod construction whereby the alignment of the axles with the chassis may be readily accomplished and maintained.

These and other objects I accomplish by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying. drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like part throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chassis embodying axle mountings constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure3 is an enlarged" detail sectional view showing the mounting of the front axle;

Figure 4: is a section on the line 4-i of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation in detail of the mounting of the rear axle;

Figure 6 is a plan view showing a slightly modified form of mounting from the front axle;

Figure 7 is a front elevation showing the manner of mounting the front axles of the chassis where the side members of the chassis do not extend beyond the front axle;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the construction shown in, Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlargedwletail sectional view showing the mounting of the, main spring guide bolts;

Figure 10 is a view showing a modified mountin of the forward end of the radius 3 rods of the rear axle; V

Figure 11 shows a modification of the mounting shown in Figure 6; and

Figure 12 is a modification of the form of mounting shown in Figure 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the frame of the chassis, 11 the side members thereof, 12 the front axle and 13 the rear axle. The axles 12 and 13 are provided upon their upper faces at points aligned with the side members 11 of the frame 10 with enlargements or seats 14 having se-' cured thereto by securing elements 15 vertically extending coil main springs 15, the upper ends of which abut and are secured by similar securing elements to spring seats 16 carried by the side members 11 at points vertically aligned with the enlargements 14 of the axles 12 and 13. These springs form the main support for the chassis frame 10. The enlargements 14- have likewise secured thereto by securing elements 17 the lower ends of auxiliary coil springs 17, which springs are of smaller diameter and of less length than the springs 15 so that they terminate short of the spring seats 16 of the frame and only come into play after the springs 15 have been compressed a portion of their length.

The enlargements 1 1 have secured thereto approximately centrally thereof vertically extending shafts 18 which extend through openings 19 formed in the spring seats 16 and are provided at their upper ends with spring washers 20 and adjusting nuts 21 whereby the spring washers may be adjusted longitudinally thereof. Between the spring washers 20 and the upper surface of the spring seats 1.6 are disposed recoil springs 22 which come into play upon tendency of the axle to move away from the frame a distance greater than its normalspacing. By adjusting the nuts 21, the degree of resistance to recoil under influence of the springs 15 and 17 may he graduated to any desired point. I have shown the shaft as secured to the axle by means of a ball and socket joint and in the present showing half of the socket is formed in the axle and'the other half thereof is formed by a plate 14* which likewise serves as a spring seat for the springs 15 and 17 and as a mounting for the securing elements of the lower ends of the springs.

7 The numeral 23 designates V-sh'aped radius rod members, one of which is secured to each axle at each end thereof, the arms 24 of the radius rods being secured to the axle and the apex portion 25 thereof being pivotally connected to the frame at a point in advance of the axle. The pivotal connection at the forward end of the radius rods may be either in the form of a ball joint 26 engaging the frame or a bracket carried by the frame, or an extension 27 directed through an opening in a bracket 28 carried by the frame. In the present instance I have shown the front axle 12 as provided with radius rods 23, the apex of which is connected by a ball joint with the forward end of the frame which is usually down bent for connection with a spring member, as indicated at 29. The inner arm, or that arm disposed toward the center of the axle of these radius rods is rigidly secured to the axle in alignment with the enlargement 14 thereof. The other arm is provided with a threaded portion having mounted thereon adjusting nuts 31, and this end of the arm is adapted to be directed through an ear 32 formed upon the outer extremity of the front axle and preferably upon the upper branch 33 of the spindle fork. By adjusting the arm 24 through the ear 32, the positioning of the axle with relation to the frame may be corrected to insure proper alignment of the frame and axle carried spring seats.

The rear axle radius rods are shown as provided with outer arms 34 adjustable as to length and rigidly secured to the axle at a point aligned with the enlargement or spring seat 14 thereof, and inner arms rigidly secured to a point adjacent the center of the axle. The arm 34 is preferably adjustable to provide for adjustment of the axle for alignment of the spring seats, as indicated at 36. The pivotal mounting of the apex portion of the V consists in this showing in directing an extension 27 of the radius rod through an opening 37 formed .in the bracket28. This extension 27 is preferably screw-threaded and has mounted thereon springs 88 abutting opposite sides of the bracket 28 and the tension ofwhich may be adjusted by adjusting nuts 39. By this construction limited play of the rear axle longitudinally of the frame is" permitted, thereby compensating for road shocks or thrusts longitudinally of the frame. .In many instances it will be preferable that the construction such as shown in Figure 10 be employed for connecting the forward end of these radius rods to the car frame. In this figure the plate 28 is simply provided with a ball socket receiving a ball formed at the bight portion of the V-shaped brace.

The point of pivotal connection of the radius -rods23 of the rear axleis preferably aligned or approximately aligned with the arms with the axle as of the rigid type, the

same may be pivoted if so desired, as indicated in Figure 6, so as to permit of move ment of the axle upon the ends of these arms.

Rearwardly'of the front axle 12 I provide a bracket 41 extending downwardly from the frame side members 11 and provided at a point horizontally aligned with the axle with an opening 42, one bracket 41 being secured to each side member. To the axles at points aligned with the enlargements 14 thereof I pivotally connect the for ward end of a rod 43, the rear end of which is directed through the opening 42 of the bracket 41 and is provided at its rear extremity with an adjustingnut 44 and spring washer 45. Between the spring washer and the rear face of the bracket 41 and surrounding the rod 43, a compression spring 46 is disposed. The point of connection of the rod 43 with the axle and its point of mounting in its bracket 41 being horizontally aligned, movement of the axle in a vertical direction from its normal position to either side of the normal position will cause compression of the spring 46 so that the springs 46 of the rods will tend to resist either shock or rebound action of the axle.

If preferred, instead of a single straight rod, a V-shaped radius rod 47 of the type shown in Figure 6 can be employed, the ends of the arms being pivotally connected to the axle 12 and the apex portion thereof being provided with an extension 48 directed through the bracket 41 and upon which the spring 46 is mounted. In the construction shown in Figure 6, but a single spring has been shown engaging the extension of the radius rod. It will, however, be understood that when desired, as it will be in some instances, the construction such as shown in Figure 11 may be employed where balanced springs are provided upon this extension, as hereinbefore set forth, each of the springs being adjustable.

In chassis where the front end of the frame does not projectbeyond the front axle, as in the construction hereinbefore set forth, I secure to the front member of the frame a bar 49 extending transversely of the frame and provided at its ends with spring seats 50 corresponding to the-spring seats 16 of the frame hereinbefore described, and provide the front axles 12 with enlargements 14, providing these seats with the springs 15, 17 and 22 and the shaft 18 hereinbefore described. From the frame side members 11 depend brackets 51 at points rearwardly of the axle, and radius rods 52 have their forward ends secured to the axle adjacent the ends thereof and their rear ends pivotally mounted in the brackets 51. These rods are preferably made adjustable, as indicated at 53, so that the axles may be adjusted to align the spring seats thereof with the spring seats of the transverse member 49. In types of vehicles where the front axle 12 is provided with radius rods in its normal construction, these are employed in addition to the radius rods 52.

The radius rods 52 may consist of either a single bar or a- V-shaped radius rod such hereinbefore described, one of the arms of the radius rod being made adjustable to permit of adjustment of the axle, as shown in Figure 12. The forward ends of the radius rod arms 52 shown in this figure are at present disclosed as being pivotally connected with the axle, but may be solidly secured thereto if so desired. The bight portions of these rods are provided with an extension 54: disposed through a bracket 51 the extension being provided with one or more adjustable springs 55, the tension of which is adjusted through medium of nuts 56. In many cases it will be preferable that the point of engagement of the extension with the bracket 51 be horizontally aligned with the point of engagement with the axle for the reasons hereinbefore given in the description of the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4:.

It will be seen that in each type of construction employed, means are provided for adjusting the axle to maintain the alignment of the spring seats thereof and that means are provided for notonly spring supporting the frame but for checking any tendency to rebound thereof. Accordingly a chassis having the axle mountings thereof constructed in accordance with my invention will be very easy riding and the construction employed being simple, will be very durable. It will, of course, be understood that all pivotal mountings will be provided with anti-friction bearings of any desired type, even though the same be not hereinillustrated. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction as hereinbefore set forth is capable of some change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and I ac cordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

In a chassis, a frame embodying side members, an axle disposed beneath the frame, vertically aligned pairs of spring seats carried by said axle and the side members, a spring disposed intermediate the spring seats of each pair and secured to-each thereof, shafts pivotally engaged with the axle at each spring seatthereof and extending through the spring seats of the side members, a spring abutting the upper surfaces of the spring seats of the side members, and means carried by said shaft for adjusting the tension of the last mentioned springs, the pivotal connection of said shafts with said axle comprising a ball and socket, the spring seats of the axle each forming a portion of one of the sockets.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alfix my signature.

FRANK W. AYRE S. 

